Keyword research is one of the most important components of online marketing of all kinds. Search engine ranking for right keywords can make or break a website. If a website is not using the words that people are actively searching and actually interested in, then the website is missing a lot of free traffic. Keyword research is core of the online market research. It tells what people are interested in and what actual words they are using to find topics, products and services.

Why is Keyword Research Important?

Keyword research and optimization is not only important for the search engine optimization (SEO) but it is also important to know online visitors so well that which words will grab their attention, earn their trust, and persuade them to buy your products or services in the future.

Your goal when conducting keyword research is to identify the topics that matter most to your target audiences, and then discover the exact language they use when they search for information and discuss their questions on social networking sites. Accurate keyword research helps you optimize your website for the search engines, and it also allows you to shape your content audit. So it’s vitally important that you use smart tactics to help you do your research in a fast, efficient way.

Keywords Research in Social Networks

Searching keywords in social networks is also become an integrated part of keyword research. It is important to know what social communities need and want, and how people talk about the topics when they’re having conversations with family and friends. Consumers are increasingly influenced by content the find on social media and networks as well as requested recommendations from friends. The consumer journey from initial query to purchase is increasingly complex, involving a combination of social interaction and research on search engines. When people use search engines, they are generally looking for an answer to a specific question. Users on social networking sites are there to talk, share ideas, and interact with other users.

Keyword Research Process

Creating keyword list

Create a list of keywords that you think your target audience would use to find your website. You can use Google Analytics, competitor websites to list keywords that would your potential customers will search to find your products, services etc.

Brainstorming keywords

In order to refine your initial keywords list you should meet and discuss with several business stakeholders to validate keywords list. You need a brainstorming session with other business stakeholders to refine, add and filter your keywords list.

Finding traffic volume and competitiveness

Take your initial list of search terms and plug them into the free Google Keyword tool: https://adwords.google.com/o/KeywordTool . Once you’ve entered the target search terms, click on the search but to reveal a list of related terms and their corresponding monthly traffic volumes and competiveness. https://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/ is another tool that will give search volume and related similar terms. Export an excel file with the list of search terms that were displayed in the Google Keyword tool and do a data sort of keywords with the highest traffic and lowest competition.

Ranking keywords

After you have your list of search terms, you want to rank them. You will also want to enter them into rank tracking software so that you can keep track of your target search terms while at the same time understanding how your activities are impacting overall search rankings for the search terms you are targeting. Here is a free tool that can be used for these purposes: http://tools.seobook.com/firefox/rank-checker/.

Building keyword glossary

Finally, prepare your keyword glossary. The goal of preparing keyword glossary is to develop a prioritized, categorized and manageable keyword terms. The glossary will be the cornerstone of your search engine optimization efforts that guide SEO copyrighting applied to existing content, the suggestions of new content and optimization of social topics and content.